Although there are many different versions of the Paleo Diet, the basic principles always remain the same: Stick to whole, organic foods that resemble the diet of our Paleolithic ancestors as closely as possible.
But, as is the case with any diet, it can be difficult to meet all of your nutritional needs with standard foods – which is where protein powders become powerfully useful. What protein powders are fitting for Paleo diets?
Whey
Derived from the cheese-making process that separates milk into its solid and liquid portions, whey is by far one of the most wildly used protein powders out there. Along with having a complete amino acid profile – meaning that it supplies ample doses of every amino acid your body needs – absorbs quickly into your body and gets right to work.
When it's in its minimally processed concentrate form, though, whey protein powder not only fits the tenets of Palaeolithic eating, it has more benefits than other versions. Whey isolate and other more processed options generally have higher protein concentrations but at the cost of highly beneficial nutrients including those that can benefit your bone, brain and cardiovascular health.
It's also worth noting, as well, that organic grass-fed whey contains healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to improve several biological systems.
Pea
Take from yellow split peas, a Paleo-friendly vegetable, pea protein powder has an excellent amino acid profile – for a plant. This means that, technically, it is not a complete protein.
All that being said, however pea protein can be an extremely useful option. For one thing, it is allergen free – unlike other popular vegetarian proteins like soy. Some people may even experience allergic reactions to whey, particularly if they are lactose intolerant. As mentioned, though, pea protein does not carry this concern. Pea protein is also fairly easy to digest, which cannot be said for many other protein powders.
Look for a pea protein that is take from organically grown peas and is minimally processed.
Rice
People are often surprised to learn that there's protein in Paleo-approved rice but, honestly, it's in there. For the most part, rice protein powder has many of the same benefits as pea protein with one notable exception: flavor.
As you might expect, pea protein powder has a fairly distinct savory flavor. Organic rice protein powder, however, has virtually no flavor and is therefore easier to mix with other foods and protein powders. Again, when considering rice protein powders select an organic option.